“I absolutely oppose a federal increase of the minimum wage,” T.W. Shannon said. “Under no circumstances should the federal government be dictating to the states how they handle wages. I think the markets should drive those decisions.”

Shannon said raising the minimum wage would mean many small businesses would have to cut jobs.

“The cost of living is so different among the many states. I think that state governments are in the best position to make those type of decisions, but really the markets should be deciding that. I certainly trust the markets more than I trust the bureaucrats in Washington.”

Shannon said he’ll continue to be passionate about states' rights throughout his campaign.

“We see this federal intrusion not just in the areas of the federal minimum wage, but from the EPA regulations to the IRS to the Bureau of Land Management, we just see an overly intrusive federal government.”

WAGE SITS AT 7 DOLLARS AND 25 CENTS AN HOUR. BUT IF AN OKLAHOMA SENATE CANDIDATE GETS HIS WAY THAT COULD GO DOWN TO ZERO. K-O-C-O'S BRIAN SHLONSKY EXPLAINS WHY T-W SHANNON' WANTS TO GET RID OF THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE. HIS STORY IS NEW TONIGHT. 33:25-33:27 "I had to work for a living all my life." WHILE WORKING ALBERT HILL HAS SEEN THE MINIMUM WAGE GO UP BUT NOW SAYS HE SUPPORTS DOING AWAY WITH IT ALL TOGETHER. Clip0004 Albert Hill 32:33-32:37 "People need it, cost of living keeps going up." HILL ISN'T ALONE ALSO PUSHING TO GET RID OF THE MANDATED MINIMUM WAGE IS U-S SENATE HOPEFUL TW SHANNON. "I absolutely oppose a federal increase of the minimum wage, under no circumstances should the federal government be dictating to the states how they handle the wages, I think the markets should drive those decisions." RIGHT NOW THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE IS SET AT 7.25. BUT 22 STATES HAVE SET HIGHER MINIMUM WAGES - MEANING WORKERS GET MORE MONEY. OKLAHOMA ISN'T ONE OF THEM. SHANNON SAYS HIS STANCE IS ALL ABOUT PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WHAT HE CALLS IT'S INTRUSION INTO STATE'S RIGHTS. "The cost of living is so different among the many states, I think that state governments are in the best position to make those type of decisions." WHILE MANY OKLAHOMANS AGREE Clip0002 Jonae Shelton 31:27-31:33 "You'd probably have less people out there who need more help, people probably wouldn't need as much help." OTHERS DON'T - SAYING THE MANDATED MINIMUM WAGE IS A GOOD THING - AND CUTTING IT OUT RAISES TOO MANY QUESTIONS. Clip0001 Lakresha Young 29:27-29:36 "Do we have a lot of doors open, do we have a lot of labor jobs that are willing to pay a little bit more ?" Clip0003 Claryce Shelton "I don't know what kind of idea it is, 31:52 "If we have a chance for people to make more money, then it would be ok" SHANNON TELLS ME ANOTHER CONCERN WITH RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE IS THAT MANY SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE WOULD HAVE TO CUT JOBS. BRIAN SHLONSKY KOCO 5 NEWS.